Press



W. F. BURDITT, JR.

PRESS.

APPLICATION mm JULY 11. 1917.

1,395,386. Patented Nov. 1,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESS INVENTOR:

Arm/Mfrs.

W. F. BURDITT, JR.

PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1917.

1,395,386. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v M Arron/vim.

W. F. BU-RDITT, In.

PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1917.

1,395 ,386. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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WITNESS" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. BURDITT, JR., OF LYONS FARMS, NEW JERSEY.

PRESS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. BUR- nrrr, J r., a citizen of Canada, and a resident of Lyons Farms, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to presses known as straight sided or double housing presses for bending metal for structural purposes, such as sheet metal in the construction of doors and Windows and their frames, cabinet work and the'like, or bending heavier metal, such as channel sections, stringers, stair risers, machine parts and the like, and for which presses there has arisen a large demand due to the extensive use of metal for many and varied purposes including those above indicated.

In presses of this type the lower die bed has heretofore been supported at its ends, and under heavy work, especially in the larger presses, there has frequently been enough give or spring in the die bed, intermediate its ends, to render the work imperfeet, due to the great force which is necessary to bend heavy metal for purposes such as above mentioned. This give or spring varies from a negligible amount at the ends of the die bed, where the latter is secured to the housings, to a maximum amount at the middle of the span or length of the die bed. I have found that if the die bed is not rigidly secured at its ends to the housings, but is supported so that it will remain straight and rigid and the give or spring, if any, be taken by some other means, the press cannot only do heavier work but the distance between the housings can be increased so as to accommodate longer pieces of work. This is an important consideration in view of the growing demand for greater lengths of formed metal sections and shapes.

The objects of the invention are to support the die bed of a press so that it will not spring or bend at its middle; to this end to leave the ends of the die bed free so that the die bed can move as a whole toward and away from the hammer; to support the die bed intermediate its ends and preferably at points substantially opposite those at which pressure is applied to the hammer; to secure such a support at its opposite ends to the housings; to prevent springing or yielding of such a. support from affecting Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Nov. 1, 1921. 1917. Serial No. 181,009.

the'parallel relation of the die bed to the hammer; to thus secure a construction by which the die bed instead of springing or bendingwill move away from the hammer in parallel relation thereto, the give or spring being taken by its supporting means, and to secure other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several views,

igure 1 is an elevation of a press embodying my invention viewed from the front or side at which the operator stands;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the housings on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the end blocks for the bottom yoke;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, on larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a section'on line 66 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, drawn to the same scale as Fi s. 5 and 6.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numerals 1, 2 indicate housings adapted to stand upright in substantially parallel relation at opposite ends of the machine, said housings being rigidly connected at their tops by a leaf 3, and preferably embedded at their lower portions in a concrete or other suitable foundation. It will be understood that the hammer and the lower die bed, in which the dies are mounted for shaping the metal, according to my invention, extend horizontally between said housings, as will next be described more fully.

The hammer, designated by reference numeral 4, is arranged between the housings 1 and 2, as usual, with its ends extending into suitable guideways in the housings. For suspending the hammer, the same is connected at its upper edge, as by adjusting screws 6, 6 to eccentrics 7, 7 through which extend a shaft 8 having bearings in the housings 1, 2 and driven outside of one or both of said housings by a large gear wheel or Other suiteb m en I a shown that is,

the hammer 4 connected or suspended at two points of its length, one near each end, but obviously it could be supported at more or less points located wherever desired.-

The size of hammer and strength of the material of which it is composed obviously enter into a consideration of the number and position of the points of support of the hammer, and preferably the construction is such as to enable the hammer to with stand the blows with the least possible deflection.

The lower die bed, referred to by reference numeral 10, extends longitudinally be neath the hammer and is held at its ends in Vertical guideways 11 in the housings which permit up and down movement of the said die bed, but prevent lateral or longitudinal movement thereof. The die bed, like the hammer, is arranged vertically edgewise and is of suflicient depth to be rigid and resist distortion under the impact of the hammer, when supported according to my invention as hereinafter described. Furthermore, the die bed is preferably braced against bending or bowing laterally, out of the plane of the press, by

' longitudinal ribs 12, 13 adjacent the top and bottom of itself, respectively, but it will be understood that the particular shape of the die bed, the number and disposition of reinforcing ribs, and the like, may be varied, added to or dispensed with as found expedient or necessary. 7

For supporting the die bed, a bottom yoke 14 is provided, shown as comprising in the present disclosure two I-beams 15, 1 5 arranged parallel to each other and bolted individually by means of end blocks 16 to the lower ends ofthe housings 1, 2. These Ibeamsv are spaced apart, one being on either side of the lane of the die bed, and stand vertically edgewise, that is, so that their flanges 17 are in top and bottomhorizontal planes. Preferably theentire bottom yoke is embedded in concrete or otherwise held in the supporting surface or floor of the shop, as indicated in Fig. 1.

There is preferably a pair of end blocks at each end of the bottom yoke 14, arranged upon the outer sides of the I-beams and secured to the inner sides of the housings. These end blocks, as shown in Figs. 1% and particularly Fig/1, provide each a vertical portion 18 adapted to be positioned flatwise with respect to the web of the I-beam, and having a plurality of holes 19 for receiving bolts 20 whereby it is secured fast to said I-beam. Below the said vertical portion 18 is a horizontally disposed foot portion 21 adapted to underlie .thebottom flange 17 of the I-beam, and preferably theI-beam is permitted to seat upon this foot so that the ei t t -b m nd. Pa s pp thereby come primarily upon said foot, thus and foot 21 is deflected outwardly as at 22 so as to pass around the lower flange 17 of the I-beanr, Substantially perpendicular to both the vertical wall 18 and the foot 21 is a flange 23 preferably projecting from said vertical wall in a direction opposite from the foot, that is, the flanger23 is upon one side of said vertical wall 18 and the foot is upon the other side of said wall. This flange is provided with a plurality of holes 24 for receiving bolts 25 which secure it flatwise against the inner vertical side of the housing. In order to relieve the bolts 25 from carrying the weight of the end blocks, 'I-beams andother supported parts, a shoulder 26 is provided at the bottom of the housing upon which the pair of end blocks at that end of the yoke may rest. As shown, a. shoulder 27 is provided at the bottom of the flange 23 adapted to seat on said bottom shoulder 26 of the housing,.and a flange 28 is provided upon the end block oflset by the width. of said shoulder 27 from the plane of the flange 28 so as to depend and lie in flatwise engagement with the front or vertical portion of the housing below the upwardly facing shoulder 26 thereof, and preferably a bolt 29 extends through this bottom flange 28 and the housing for more securely connecting said parts. It will be understood that the bottom or depending flange 28 reinforces the foot 21, preventing it from becoming bent downward or broken oil, and the other flange 23 reinforces the vertical portion 18 of the block, preventing said portion from bending outwardly or breaking off. It will be noted, also,,that said flanges are in planes substantially perpendicular to both the vertical portion 18 and the foot 21 and that these two latter parts are inplanes perpendicular to each other,.so that the block is braced in all directions necessary and is consequently strong and rigid. As stated above, there are preferably a pair of end blocks at each end of the yoke, that is, there is one block for each I-beam, and by preference these blocks are bolted independently of each other to their respective I-beams, although this could be otherwise if found more desirable. Furthermore, although I have shown a pair of end blocks for each end of the yoke, I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself thereto except as set forth in the claim when construed in the light of the prior art.

Suitable separators or spacers 30 are arranged between the I-beams at such points where needed or found desirable, holding the I-beams held apart and bracing one from the other. These separators, as shown, com- -site side faces of which are grooves 31 of a depth such that bolts laid within said grooves will all be in substantially the same plane. Preferably there are three such grooves, the two end ones facing one way and the middle one facing the other way. Thus, when the separators are stood between the I-beams and bolts 32 inserted through suitable holes in the beams and passed through all three of said grooves, the separators cannot fall down. Obviously, the separators are properly proportioned so that the bolts 32 may be tightened upon and the I-beams clamped firmly against the ends of said separators which preferably engage the web portions of the I-beams. It is to be understood, that the holes for said bolts 32 in the I-beams are arranged by preference in vertical straight lines, that is, one above the other, and separated the same distance as the grooves in the separators. Furthermore, the lines of holes in the I-beams are preferably beneath or in alinement with the supports for the hammer.

Preferably the support of the die bed is by means of separated feet 33, resting upon the yoke at a distance from its ends. These feet are shown integral with the die bed and are part of and depend from thelower reinforcing rib thereof. Furthermore, said feet preferably are spaced from the ends of the die bed so as to be positioned under or in alinement with the eccentrics 7, 7 for the hammer, and also, the feet preferably seat squarely upon the top of the I-beams, and

form the only support normally carrying the weight of the die bed. In order to more securely reinforce and brace the die bed, a longitudinal rib or flange 34: is provided between the feet 33, 33 depending from the bottom of the die bed and preferably entering between the I-beams 15, 15 of the yoke 14, see Fig. 1. On top of the yoke adjacent the housings so as to be above the shoulders 26 of the housing and supported thereby through the intervening end blocks, are filler pieces 35, preferably, underlying the die bed at its ends but normally out of engagement therefrom.

It will be understood that in operation of my improved press, the supporting yoke '14 will give or spring before the die bed 10, and it will be obvious that however much this yoke bows downward at its middle, it

will not disturb the parallel relation of the die bed to the hammer. The die bed will simply move downward as the points of the yoke which its feet 33, 33 engage lower, the ends of the die bed sliding in their guideways in the housings. If desired, the filler pieces 35 already described can be used to limit such downward movement of the die bed as a whole, although I have shown them removable so that they can be dispensed with and have in Fig. 2 shown them omitted.

Obviously various modifications and changes may be made in the manufacture of my improved press without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described: the invention, what I claim is,

In a sheet metal bending press, the combination with opposite housings providing slideways, a die-holding hammer having an exposed working edge between said housings adapted to receive a die longitudinally of said edge and extending between said housings, means engaging said hammer at a plurality of separated points intermediate its ends for reciprocating the same in its slideways, a die-bed opposed to said hammer with its ends slidably free in the housings and presenting toward the hammer a working edge adapted to receive longitudinally of itself a die extending between the housings, parallel spaced beams extending between the ends of the housings at the opposite side of said die-bed from the hammer, means for connecting said beams to each other and to said housings, and means for supporting said die-bed directly upon the upper face of said beams at a plurality of separated points intermediate its ends, both said die-bed and hammer being unsupported except at said separated points intermediate their ends.

In testimony where I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM F. BURDITT, JR. lVitncsses HOWARD P. KING, MILDRED E. BROOKS. 

